LongBoat Key...Not Key Largo

[Bobby Davis]

Sorry Guys!  Said the wrong place.  I am going to Long Boat Key/Sarasota sometime in Late February early March and am looking for fishing recommendations.  Lakes, Places to fish from the shore, etc.  Let's try this again.

[ALarge]

Fish the beaches off beer can island at Longboat pass on mornings, evenings and moving tides for snook. Dock lights at night from a boat are always hot. There are places you can rent a 

Captain Josh Purifoy http://www.captainjoshcharters.com/ was born and raised on Anna Maria Island and is the local guide king. I've gone out with him every summer for tarpon the past 8 years or so and never been disappointed. 

Cannons marina in Longboat Key rents boats for a super reasonable price. https://cannons.com/boat-rental/  the cheapest option is a small flats boat that fits three and can run around in the mangroves and grass flats between the mainland and anna maria island. Get a bigger boat if you plan on going through longboat pass and into the gulf. There's  a reef off the northwestern tip of AMI, also that's good for snapper, grouper and other reef fish. PM me for details on that if you end up going. 

Best,

Alex 

[Lane Thurgood]

Go talk with the guys at CB’s Outfitters in Siesta Key. They’ll have recommendations on locations and a selection of flies, tippet whatever else you need. One place you should check out there is New Pass. That’s wadeable. There is great water all over there.

Main gamefish in the winter include lady fish, spotted trout, jacks and snook. I’ve also caught pompano, Spanish Mack’s and mangrove snapper. You might find some redfish but I haven’t yet.

I generally wade with an 8-weight and either a floating or intermediate. Last winter I had to go to 30-pound bite tippet because 20 wasn’t cutting it with the snook.

I go every other December and spend most fishing time on my own but I book one day with Capt Rick Grassett.